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Federal Regiment

96th Pennsylvania Infantry

Organized: Pottstown, PA; mustered in 9/23/1861

 

Commanding Officer on the Antietam Campaign:
  Col. Henry L. Cake

 

This Regiment's Chain of Command:
  Army - Army of the Potomac
  Corps - Sixth Army Corps
  Division - 1st Division, 6th Corps
  Brigade - 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Corps


Unit history

Henry L. Cake, who had commanded the Twenty-fifth begiment, had received authority from the War Department, on the 13th of August, 1861, to raise a regiment for three years, and establishing a camp at Lawton's Hill, overlooking the town of Pottsville, at once commenced the work of recruiting, many of the officers and men of his old command [the 3 months' 25th PA Volunteers], entering the new. With the exception of companies C, E, G and H, in which were some men from Luzerne, Berks, Dauphin, and Montgomery counties, the regiment was recruited in Schuylkill county.

On the 23d of September the command was mustered into the United States service with the following field officers:

Henry L. Cake, Colonel
Jacob G. Frick, Lieutenant Colonel (later Commanding 129th PA Infantry at Antietam)
Lewis J. Martin, Major.

The regiment was with the Army of the Potomac for the Penninsula and Second Bull Run Campaigns.

On the Antietam Campaign

"Returning to Alexandria, the regiment joined in the Maryland campaign, which was immediately after inaugurated. The army moved for the crossing of the South Mountain, by Crampton's and Turner's passes, each held by strong bodies of the enemy. Franklin's Corps arrived in front of Crampton's Gap, which debouches into Pleasant Valley in the rear of, and but five miles from Maryland Heights, opposite Harper's Ferry, at noon of the 14th of September. The Ninety-sixth in advance of the column, entered Burkettsville early in the morning, driving out the rebel skirmishers, and drew the fire of his artillery upon the mountain developing his line of defence. Immediately forming with Slocum on the right, his line being composed of Bartlett's and Torbert's brigades, supported by Newton's, with Smith disposed for the protection of Siocum's flank, Franklin attacked. The pass was held by M'Laws' Division of the rebel army, under General Cobb, the position an excellent one for defence. The brigade was formed on the right of the line, and advanced to within a thousand yards of a stone wall, where the enemy was making a final stand."

"The Ninety-sixth, which had been engaged upon the left of the line, now came up, and the other regiments of the brigade, with ammunition exhausted, falling back, advanced upon the concealed foe, in line with Torbert's Brigade, which had the left. The path of the Ninety-sixth was across open fields, intersected by fences and hedges, where every man presented a fair mark for the keen eyed rebel sharp-shooter. But the line dashed forward, pausing at each fence to fire a volley, until it reached a thin strip of corn. As it approached this field the enemy's fire ceased, and while it was passing through it an ominous silence prevailed; but the moment it emerged from this slight cover a perfect sheet of flame was poured upon it, and many of the bravest fell. But unflinching the survivors dashed forward with the bayonet, completely routed the enemy's line, and took many prisoners. The loss in the Ninety-sixth was twenty killed, seventy-one severely, and fourteen slightly wounded, out of less than four hundred effective men who entered the engagement. Major Martin, and Lieutenant John Dougherty, were among the killed."
(from Bates)

Battlefield Tablets for this Unit

Tablet #120: Army of the Potomac - 17 Sep, 5 AM to 17 Sep, 12 PM
Tablet #102: Sixth Army Corps - 17 Sep, 5 AM to 17 Sep, 4 PM
Tablet #71: Slocum's Division, Sixth Army Corps - 17 Sep, 5 AM to 19 Sep, 9 AM

References & Notes

Source: Bates, Samuel P., History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65, Harrisburg, 1868-1871. (online at Pennsylvania in the Civil War)

We have 74 individuals in the AotW database who were on the Maryland Campaign with this unit:

 

Co. Rank Name Casualty? Details*
ACaptHay, Lamar S.        We have some details for this person
ACorpJones, Gomer KIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
APvtKinzi, Caleb WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
ALtSaylor, John Albert        We have some details for this person
BCaptFilbert, Peter Augustus        We have some details for this person
BLtHuber, Levi         We have some details for this person
CSgtAllison, Alexander WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
CPvtBast, Charles WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
CCorpBrannigan, Arthur WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
CPvtFrazier, John WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
CCorpHilton, Thomas WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
CPvtKane, Christopher P.WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
CCaptLessig, William Henry        We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person
CPvtMcMinzie, Solomon KIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
CPvtMillens, William AWOL   09/15     We have some details for this person
CPvtOliver, James B.WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
CCorpOliver, Thomas WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
CLtRussell, Samuel R.        We have some details for this person
CPvtSipe, Martin KIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
CPvtThomas, David WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
DPvtBecker, William Died (d)   11/10     We have some details for this person
DCaptBoyle, John T.        We have some details for this person
DPvtCarr, John MWIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
DLtHannum, John T.        We have some details for this person
DPvtReese, Thomas KIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
DPvtWilliams, Thomas D.KIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
ECorpComerford, Thomas AWOL   09/14     We have some details for this person
ELtOberrender, John Stephen        We have some details for this person
EPvtVogel, Otto G.H.KIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
FSgtCasey, James         We have some details for this person
FLtDougherty, John KIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
FPvtTracy, Thomas WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
GPvtBird, Joel WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
GPvtFerree, Uriah DuBoisWIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
GPvtFritz, Lewis WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
GPvtGrim, John D.WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
GCaptHaas, Jacob Washington        We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person
GPvtHaines, Thomas KIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
GPvtKaercher, James MWIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
GCorpKeiser, Henry George        We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person
G PvtSargert, McCoy KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtStrausser, Abraham WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
GPvtStrausser, Israel WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
GPvtStrausser, Joshua WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
GPvtThompson, William W.Died (d)   12/18     We have some details for this person
G PvtTreon, Frank KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtWeaver, Robert D.WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
GCorpWorkman, Josiah WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
HPvtBidel, Christian MWIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
HPvtClarey, John MWIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
HPvtHaley, John MWIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
HSgtJohnson, Joseph S.WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
HPvtKoons, Henry P.KIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
HPvtMiller, Aaron MWIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
H PvtMiller, Jeremiah MWIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
HCorpOrtner, William WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
HCaptRoyer, Henry         We have some details for this person
HPvtSentman, John KIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
HPvtTreichler, Oliver G.KIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
HPvtZeigler, Charles B.KIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
ILtByrnes, Matthew         We have some details for this person
IPvtDavis, John B.WIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
IPvtJames, George KIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
I PvtWeaklam, William KIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
KLtBoyer, George B.        We have some details for this person
KCaptBudd, Richard         We have some details for this person
KPvtFay, Patrick MWIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
KPvtGraeff, Jacob AWOL   09/15     We have some details for this person
KPvtHalloran, Michael MWIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
KPvtMcAlister, Patrick KIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
KPvtMcMichael, Barney KIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
F&SColCake, Henry Lutz        We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person
F&SSgtHarlan, Jr., John         We have some details for this person
F&SMajMartin, Lewis JKIA   09/14     We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person

 

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